MTA Holds First Public Hearing On Possible Fare, Toll Hikes

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is proposing a fare and toll hike and will be holding eight public hearings before the board votes.

The first of the eight hearings took place Tuesday night at Baruch College and as WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell reported, there was not much enthusiasm for any kind of fare increase.

The MTA is struggling to increase revenue by four percent but how that happens has yet to be determined.

There are several options on the table, one of which includes keeping the base fare at $2.75 but eliminating the MetroCard bonuses. Another option will increase the base fare to $3.00.

“Albany should look into this. Albany should pay for it. Albany should help us out. Until then, improve service and put off the fare hike,” said Murray Hill resident Deborah Baldwin.

Under the proposed plans, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road riders can each expect a roughly four percent increase.

“I sound very chauvinistic, but I think the people who live in New York City should get the best rate, because they're the ones who are the backbone of the city and our economy and everything else,” said Trudy Mason.

Acting MTA Chairman Fernando Ferrer said the agency is desperately seeking ways to generate revenue for service improvements.

“If we go down the rabbit hole of no revenue, then we have a dying system,” Ferrer explained at the hearing.

Locals who spoke Tuesday night were furious about the possible fare increase and demanded the MTA outline where funds will be allocated to before initiating a fare hike.